Podcasts, radio shows, writing and more by Alex Fitch

Today’s show: Comic Sushi and Public Servants

Excerpts from Depressed Cat by Lizz Lunney and Tozo by David O Connell

Continuing this month’s look at webcomics, Dickon Harris speaks to a couple of creators of very different online strips at the Movies Comics and Manga expo in London’s Docklands. Liz Lunney creates a variety of humourous and cute animal strips under the anthology title ‘Online Comic Sushi’ which she has also printed in collections such as ‘Bears in your Face / The Man with Tetris on his Chin’ and ‘I Love Dinosaurs and they Love Me’ which led to her inclusion in the American Indie publisher Top Shelf’s collection of online comics, Top Shelf 2.0.David O’Connell also makes family friendly comics in the form of his ongoing web strip ‘Tozo: The Public Servant’, a European ‘Clear line’ style comic reminiscent of Hergé, which tells the tale of a police inspector on the island city of Nova Venezia, who has been ordered to investigate the murder of Luco Lello, an employee of the Financial Exchange. His investigations include the mysterious but troublesome Spider Empire and the Ombra Society, led by the sinister Lady Magdalene, who travel by airship and Tozo is always accompanied by his sidekick, the mecha-golem ‘Klikker’!

It’s going to be a completely FREE event celebrating all things self-published and DIY.
Comics and Zines, Radical Literature, Poetry, Printmaking, Book Arts and even a bit of DIY Fashion will come together in this carnival of modern cottage industry!
There will be a huge variety of things to see and do, including collaborative drawing and live screen printing where you can make your own poster of the day.
In the evening there will be a party to celebrate the first birthday of the Alternative Press Fair with an open mic night for all comers to try, also featuring poetry, spoken word and music. So come along and help us blow out the candles!

Illustrators, writers and animators of all ages come together for an afternoon day of comic book art and fun. Featuring group-draw sessions, comic-themed activities and one-on-one tutorials, Drop In + Draw is open to artists of all abilities. You’ll be joined by Jamie McKelvie (X-Men: Divided We Stand, Suburban Glamour), Adam Cadwell (The Everyday) and Eagle Award-Winner Tom Humberstone (How To Date A Girl in 10 Days, My Fellow Americans), who’ll be on hand for sketches, advice and tips. So even if you can’t tell Batman from Manbat, or don’t know which end of a brush pen to hold, come on down and we’ll get you making comics.

Entry – £1 per person to cover materials.

7.30-late: Modern Romance.
A night of pop and music compered by Robin Ince. Featuring House of Starnge, Dogtanion and Judas Zero

A night of sunshine pop and four-color mayhem, Notting Hill Arts Club will be filled with comic art and live illustration while the bands play on. Compered by very special guest Robin Ince (The Office, Mock The Week, Nevermind The Buzzcocks, Radio 4 regular), the acts include confetti-wielding electro-pop heroes House of Strange, Dogtanion – whose single ‘Heavy Talk’ was one of Drowned in Sound’s ‘Singles of 2009′ – and intergalactic folk hero Judas Zero.

Once the bands have finished the We Are Words + Pictures DJs will play into the night, bringing the likes of M.I.A., Lady Gaga, The Flaming Lips and Los Campesinos! to the dancefloor.

Orbital Comics is pleased to present British comics legend, Arthur Ranson’s, premiere exhibition, showing art spanning throughout his prolific career from 2000AD and beyond and depictions of beloved characters such as Judge Anderson, PSI and Button Man…
8 Gt Newport Street
London WC2H 7JA
More info: www.orbitalcomics.com

Drawn Out and Painted Pink, an exhibition of cartoons by Kate Charlesworth and David Shenton

Throughout February 2010 The Drill Hall will be hosting and housing Drawn Out & Painted Pink, a cartoon exhibition by Kate Charlesworth and David Shenton documenting LGBT history from the 1970s to now.

“Like the best foreign correspondents (only funnier) their cartoons and comic strips have painted a devastatingly accurate self-portrait of LGBT life in the UK… They’ve got us bang to rights in the ways we were, the ways we are and the ways we could be. These are social documents of the highest order.”
Ellen Galford